A ect: Mei ena oy eat ees 


ae 


70 THE MEMBERS OF ST. 


: ' nal % , ie ye a 
rm ee ages 2 
ea, Fog inte I 
Jil, is most affectionately i inse il 


cougratulations of the season, 
By their ; 


+s 


Jan. 1, 1823. 


7 


Pamphlet Gollectaas 
Duke Divinity Seana 


SERMON.’ 


=2+o— 


JoEL I. 3. 


Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, 
and their children another generation. 


No duty is more solemnly urged a ‘h« sacre?} volume, 
; ansmitting from one e er tin{oa o her, 
ual’ revelation whic h Gd dia. “See pleas- 


E proposes efforts « most salutary and lasting 
benefit to the cause of religion and the church, }'y in- . 
culcating upon ‘others the doctrines and duties of our 
faith, and conveying information as to the origin and pro- 
gress of the Christian church, we grow stronger our- 
selves, while we lay a broad foundation on which those 
who fo follow may build. 

That the duty of religious instruction is most Sale caily 
urged in the sacred volume, will be readily seen by any 
one who reads it with attention: and indeed the truth 
‘seems se universally admitted, in theory, 
at least, however numerous the cases still are of those 
who give little | € practical attention to the subject. 

\ Notwithstanding it must be admitted as one of the 
fying subjects of contemplation furnished by 
es in Whitli we live, that much care is bestowed 
upon eli ligious instrdticn, there is no doubt great room 
for improvement. Too many are to be found, who do~ 
‘not enter as they should upon this business, and seem to 
regard i it as a matter of trivial So hi Resting much . 


Ries ewe 


of their dependence n a mysterious, sudden and irre. 
sistible operation of the e Holy Ghost, they apparently neg- 
Ject those means which have been ordained for fostering 
the teachings of the Spirit, and furnishing outward proofs 
of internal holiness. But if all such persons would take 
the trouble to read the sacred volume, with a view to the 
attainment of religious information and a knowledge of 
their duty, they would soon find their mistake.” They 
would see how often attention is urged to ae in- 
struction of the young, and how frequently t 1c 

ance of the phy te is commended, a d made 


~ to the shty as a ‘waseectt 
that he would teach Tes ohildrch a hold a ' 
him, to keep the way of the Lord. bate the ears of — 
your sons and of your sons? sons, Sai e Aln : 

what I have wrought in Egypt. ~ 
region, and the wonders of the Jewish 
be made subjects of domestic conversati 
tion. Thou shalt talk LA them, ‘saith | 


est by the way, and when thou hi 
thou risest up. And again, 7” shall 


seems to go much further than the sage 
through the minds of men in this day. 
had God himself for an instructer, it would a 
have ain the ey of parents to insist that t 


ritual. And it is s much to be amen ite 
not more prevalent’How. It is beginnli > 
place, to say that the young ought to tiecpiteid seo 
devout, and alive to religious feelings, before they aii | 
upon obedience to the ordinances of the Gospel. T he | first 1 
. thing is to . God, whether it be in the moral prec 


5 ‘+ 


-which he has laid down, or the ordinances enjoined by 
him. It is no excuse to say, we ‘do not feel fit to enter 
in earnest upon a religious life, The fact is, our first 
business is to obey the laws of Jehovah, and resort to his 
ordinances, that we may feel—that we may have suitable 
tempers—that we may grow in that grace which we profess 
to want. The first step is obedience, and the next is a 

_ are to make our lives 5 hatocimtin to the professions we 

make. 

‘The Christian, no less than the Jewish scriptures, enforce 
the duty of religious instruction. While the prophet in 
Pier requires the people of Judah to tell their chil- 

dren of the wonderful dealings of God, and. cause a 
knowledge of his ways to be perpetuated through all gen- 
_ erations, we find the apostle exhorting fathers to bring 
up ther children in. the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord. Timothy was considered eminently qualified for 
_ the sacred office, because it was known that he had been 
carefully taught in the scriptures, by his grandmother 
Lois, and his mother Eunice. 

- It would appear from various parts of the sacred vol- 
ume, that great stress has been laid upon the business of 
making the young acquainted with the dealings of Heaven 
with his creatures.; and the reasons of those observances 
and rites which had been instituted for particular pur- 
poses. 

_ The object of J oel was to make his people careful to 
Jet their children, from generation to gencration, know 
what judgments God had sent upon their fathers, and 
the reasons of them. Thereby they were to be warned 
of their own danger—prepared to shun the consequences 
which had followed the transgressions of their progenitors... 

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their 
children; and their e/uldren another generation. ‘Che same 
idea is presented when it is enjoined, hen your children 


ehh > 7 rt ‘ * ae 
ee a ee a a. ? ar “ae eee 


\ shall ask, % what mean State this service, ye shall say it | 
es the Lord’s passover. Thou shalt show ary SAYIN, 
this is done because of that which the Lord did te to m fi 
when I came out of Egypt. Those twelve : ones that 
were pitched in Gilgal commemorative of a1 ighty de- . 
liverance, were to be subjects of perpetual religious ine 
struction. JVhen your children shall ask their fathers, — 
what mean these stones? then ye shall let your children 
know, how the Lord dried up the waters of ae before 
you, ‘That Savieur who enforced the duty ¢ bya 
speak, when he took little children in ie one: b 
them, made\it the duty also of “<< dd 

to have compassion on the ignorant, « 
who opposed themselves; and he pror 
of displeasure upon those who had neg 
\ when he accused them of having en the 
knvwledge. oa , 
The remarks which have been ma 

are by the highest of all authority, the w sty 
be sufficient to show the infinite importance of a 
attention to religious instruction. ‘That admirable 
pendium of faith, the Catechism of the CoM x 


_ which I shall now dicate yourblbesill | 
ry of Christian doctrine, the catechumen ackne 
his obligation to beheve, and to doas was promis 

at his baptism, and promises by. God’s help t 
so believe and do. . 


ucation, are Ese and. Practics. 
rs Fak To believe not ‘only 1 in 


tion to study them, an effort to profit nd eat a A 


holy principles which constitute the’ sum of our f 
those great truths which God in his nae 


i: ME Dn Oe ‘a 1 Oe Ae a ee 
; aon Seen SS, aM ci nai TY OY ae ge 


by 


"acts ofsheroes and statesmen, compared with the incarna- 


7 


proper to reveal, are to be made the theme of frequent 
inquiry, reading and meditation, They form the founda- 
tion of all the hopes which mortals can cherish of a holy 
and happy state hereafter, while they furnish the only 
pure code of morals for the regulation of society and man- 
ners. That faith in which the young are to be taught 
involves all those high and heavenly considerations which 
present to the human mind, the Father of the Universe 
speaking from nothing that world of wonders which . 
" spreads the earth, and rolls in uninterrupted harmony and 
majesty through unbounded and unexplored space. Here 
the origin of our race, and that miserable fall by. which 
sin entered the world» and with it ‘‘ all ourewoe,” are 
» brought into view, and while the deepest humility is awa- 
_ kened for this most sad of all events, the most exalted 
© feclings will be enkindled by a view of that provision of 
~ mercy—that offering for sin—that rescue of men from 
_ the dominion and guilt of iniquity, which caused all Hea- 
‘ eck to wonder, and led the Son of the Eternal to resign 
the joys and glories of the celestial world. In that stu- 
' pendous gift, the human mind has a theme for contem- 
plation compared with which all the sublime ideas of 
genius, the fancy of poets, the theories of philosophy, 
and even the most splendid achievements recorded in his- 
tory are less than nothing. What are all the admired 


tion, the birth, the residence on earth, and the death of 
_ Jesus? When the young want a subject of amazement 
and glory, let them go to Bethlehem and survey that 
manger where a pious mother performs the humblest off- 
ces,while all the Heavenly hosts are paying their adora- 
tions to her holy Child! Let them goto Calvary to wit- 
ness the universe trembling through her frame, standing 
aghast, and veiled in darkness, while this same infant, 


after a life of suffering, bows his head in the agony of 


oot SE ie ya Yad 


8 


crucifixion. Tell ye your children of all 1 lety 
children tell their children, and their children an 10the 
ration. j ' eh RS 
This sacrifice for the sins of a fallen wed de 
to that sense of unworthiness which is ‘to produce 
ance. tro then the obligation of the young to | 
of the parent to teach, the infinite importance of 
ing and observing those conditions on which t 
of the atonement may be expected. Man had 
became obnoxious to death and the penalti 
law. A holy being, no less than the Son of 
the nature of’ the offender, placed himself in 
and finally died, offering everlasting life to” 
present themselves before his eternal F; 
his merits, obeying his laws, and strivis 
of his grace to live conformably to | 
his gospel. . Then will the well instruct 
not only the weakness and corruption ¢ 
own insufficiency for the work before him, | cor 
mit himself entirely to the guidance of that heavenly 
teacher, the Holy Ghost. The sanctifying power. of this 
third person of the Trinity will then be sought) in those. 
prayers, those exercises of the closet, and the temple, 
those ordinances which are channels of grace and thei ins 
junctions of Heaven. Here too will be unders . 
necessity of a visible church duly furnis 
sion from her sovereign head, with am 
these doctrines, perpetuate these ordinances, 
these exercises.) What, therefore, the child” 
himself to believe and the parent to teach 
understanding of the whole system of : 
qualify him for as much present tranquilli 
usefulness to the world, as enjoyment oi 
peace which is promised to the faithful and 


bo) 


Tell ye your children of all these thin s55 3 


9 


children tell their children, and their children another gen- 
_ eration; that so a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
may be handed down to the latest posterity, and the 
church of the living God furnished with well instructed 
-and pious members, qualified and disposed to adorn the 
household of faith. Gee 
II. The instruction of the young relates, in the scent 
place, to Practice. ‘They are bound fo do, as well as 
believe, what was promised for them. This includes the 
whole range-of the duties in which they ought to be 
most assiduously taught. And these duties are naturally 
divided into those which relate to God—the pase 
their fellow men—and themselves. 
* 1. Their duty to God, requires that they shéald study 
his character as it is displayed in the works of creation— 
the mercies of redemption—the order of his providence, 
and the ministrations of his grace. In all the rites of re- 
ligion, and in all those devotions which they see you ren- 
dering and which they are called upon to offer, the reason 
- should be assigned. God, as the greatest and best of all 
beings, should be represented to the mind of the young, 
as the author and framer of all they see, and consequent- 
ly entitled to their homage ; as the giver of all they en- 
. joy, and consequently entitled to all their love. He it is 
who permits those afflictions, mortifications and sorrows, 
which frequently overtake them, and therefore they should 
humble themselves before him. He is just and almighty, 
and is therefore to be feared. He is kind and merciful, 
and is to be loved. He is the head, the, parent and pre- 
server of all things; to him all creatures must go for the 
gratification of their wants, and to him must'they render 
a willing and constant obedience. 
In the second person of this Godhead is Jesus Christ, 
that holy| friend, who is to be ever represented to the 
young as sghat Redeemer through whom: their fallen race 


| 


must A for a Adelle from the dominion 
who is entitled to all théfr affection and 
stupendous offering which he’ made 
The example of his life, the purity and ¢ 
manners, the severity of his treatment, 
endured, the triumph which he had ihe r 
effulgence of his ascent to heaven, with 
that day when he is to come as the eterna iy 
all of them be made topics of frequent and 
struction ; andthe duties resulting from ° 
considerations should be prudently, affectic 
solemnly urged. - And here they should, 
the obligation to Gultivite: a knowledge of Go 
tifier and guide. The Holy Ghostiithgles 
third person of the Trinity, is the’ helper. of 
would perform the will of God, walk worthy 
holy vocation, and adorn the doctrine of their Sa 
2. The young are to be taught in the seconé 
the duty which they owe to the church. This 
society, framed by the counsel of the Holy Oner rea 
and fostered by apostles and martyrs, and enriched by 
their zeal and example, designed as a nursery of ‘souls 
for heaven, has Jesus Christ for its head, and those min- 
isters who derive their authority from him, for its office 
The Beg of this society was to, alate 


discipiine to the bid of the world. Tita 
the channcl of divine grace to the Bees 

door through which they were to enteri a 
their Lord. i bd 


I: is one of the most popopeet pargg7ne 


ii 
young, that they owea debt to this visible body of their 


Lord, that they ought to understand the manner in which 


the church existed in her purest days. Their studies 
should be carried back to that time when there was no 
dispute as to the institution of the ministry and the orders 
of which it was composed. The harmony of society, 
and the advancement of true holiness would be most ef- 
fectually promoted, if this course were pursued. The 
whole current of Scripture. explained by primitive usage 
and doctrine, would convince men of the great import- 
ance of attending to the authority of the church, through 
her duly authorised rulers. Her laws are the laws of 
God; “her ordinances are the appointments of Christ ; 
her ministers are the successors of the apostles, deriving 
their authority legitimately, through episcopal succession 
from her divine head. In the language of the church,* 
** it is evident unto all men, diligently reading Holy 
Scripture, and. ancient authors, that from the apostles’ 


time there have been these orders of ministers in Christ’s 


church—Bishops, Priests and Deacons.” And again, 


. “no man shall be accounted or taken for a lawful Bishop, 


Priest or Deacon, in this church, or suffered to execute 
any of the said functions, except he be called, tried, ex- 
_amined, and admitted thereunto, or hath had episcopal 
consecration or ordination.” ‘ It was,” saith the im- 


mortal Hooker,j ‘“ the generally received persuasion of 


_ the ancient Christian world, that the outward pains of a 


_ church consisteth in the having of a bishop.” And it 


~ should never be forgotten that Christ said, Ae that des- 
piseth you despiseth me, and he that despiseth me despis- 
ethhim that sent me. Yt cannot be otherwise than a 
source of regret that there is not more attention paid to 


_ this point among ourselves. The necessity of it is shows 


th Prefaelito the Offices of Ordination. 


} ee Polity, Book vii, Sec. 5. 


*y 


- 


“eae 


nish us witha stimulus and example, 


* those sects who are but of’ yesterday Q 


iad language and manner of all de 
and anxious on this subject. Their cc n¢ 


supplies for us a strong reproof. nT 
and let your children tell their childre ea thew 
dren another generation, how the church of God wa 
ganized in the primitive days, how God in his p 
dence preserved wih and what they are boun 
derther se. Os ¥ > ee Ae tip bash H . 

3. They are also to be taught, what they owe to their | 
fellow men. In the various relations of life,. the princi- 


‘aig influence, Aiboas all those cares hick pare! 
will bestow, if he does his duty, that will be the f 
which ai: Soak upon the obligation of he one | A ) pro. 


ciliate. It is the selfishness of oti batatel : 
than any one thing retards the advancement — 
good and holy. tempers. It was selfishness chalk 


_ supreme in Eden, when we lost our purity of character, © 


and that has been our torment to the present day. — y Ee, 
vou would have your children happy, restrain in early — 
life this ninaeciple, and teach them that their Ree 


in their day and generation. ny ) be Kind te to the poor an 
needy, tender of the feelings of others, and anxious t 
be of service to those around them, will bring t 
own bosoms the purest enjoyment ; while it will ail 
them in that character of benevolence which beams from 

every star in the firmament, gladdens in some way, every . 
region of the earth, and which marked every step that " 
Jesus trod, from the manger to the garden, ¢ and from 


hall of Pilate to athe top of Calvary. vo i 


13 


4, In the next place, tell your children what is their 
_ duty to themselves. ‘They are immortal creatures, and 
their nature became polluted by the fall. To them have 
been offered the means of grace and salvation, in the gift 
of a Redeemer, and they are equally with others, inter- 
ested in the sacrifice of the cross, On them it devolves 
asa duty from which there is no excuse, toemploy with 
diligence and devotion, the means which have been ap- 
pointed for the promotion of their holiness of heart, and 
their everlasting felicity. “hey are not only to be urged 
to employ the means of grace, but they are to resort to 
_ them from motives of love to holiness and virtue ; froma 
sense of their need of divine assistance ; from a convic- 
tion that these are the commands of God ; from desires 
to be qualified for the enjoyment of everlasting life ; from 
the consideration that having been initiated into the 
church, they are bound to promote her honour and pros- 
perity ; from a due reflection upon the solemn truth, that 
this world, and all its interests and joys are fleeting ; that 
though they are young, they are soon to be engaged in 
other cares, and ere long to pas3 away to other, more 
- solemn, and unchanging scenes. These are the motives 
| and considerations that are to be impressed upon them. 
| Thave now, my brethren, imperfectly shown how the 
| injunction of the prophet, and the law of Christ, are to 
be fulfilled respecting the education of youth. 
Here then allow me most plainly to address both you 
‘and the young. While I would ask you whether there 
rests upon your consciences the consoling rc flection that 
you have done your duty in this particular, while I in- - 
| quire whether the young intrusted to your care have 
been told those things which have now been mentioned, 
" would be very far from wishing to exclude myself from 
any censure which the question may insinuate. I know 
the duty of the ministry in this respect is most solemn, 


. 


i4 
and if there has ever been one regret 

another has pursued the daily walks” 
tions of your minister, it has been 

so little for the furtherance of the | 
While he has often felt most deep O 
would have done his utmost to sf; 
remained, he has seen duties of 
deemed highly important, to whicl he t 

justified in paying an attention which preclu 
where it would have been most gratifying to re rende mk " 
He saw a pei in various ways requiring. 


successor os find fine a little 7 ee 
and enter on his duties with more of confide 
did. ‘This solicitude for some time imposed 


bestowed, has lessened his attention to the yc 
congregation.* But feelings of no ordinary 
sustained him in what he believed a useful em 
of his time, and though there is still a pressur t 
attention, and a freasitht burthen upon his spirits NO. 
further delay will be allowed of that weekly instruction, 
in a course which it is believed has already been useful, 
and will it is trusted result in much benefit to the 1 

of your children, while it is intended to promote i em 
those religious feelings which will afford them 
in the discharge of their duty.t But in this 


* It may be proper here to notice, for the infortantion of ‘ 
congregation who may chance te see this discourse, that the auth r 
for many years devoted to the laborious duties of a school for young 


+ This course of weekly instruction consists of recitations from rs as anion f 
to the Festivals and Fasts of the Church, as revised by the Rt. Ho-— P 


bart: for which a system of questions has been provided. In Didi e+ 


j 
recitations such remarks and observations are made as are supposed to illustrate — “ 
the subjects of the several lessons. The duties of the class have been ee 
fer a number of months in consequence of the indisposition ef the writer. 


15 


struction let me enjoy your countenance and your cordial 
encouragement. There is nothing so withering to the 
efforts of any minister, as that coldness, that inattention, 
and neglect of co-operation, under which he sometimes 
struggles ; and which have been too oftén witnessed. 
Among your duties to the young there is certainly some- 
thing due to the Sunday school of the congregation, and 
which has enjoyed no very considerable aid and encour- 
agement beyond the laudable efforts of those who have’ 
filled the important places of teachers. It is suggested 
to you all, whether more attention may not be given with- 
out interruption to your other duties, and under the most 
flattering prospects of advantage to the church. You can- 
not but feel solicitude for it, and it is hoped will renew 
your efforts for her prosperity and honor. 

In this holy season, and at all others, make it a point 
to tell your children, that they may tell theirs, the reason 


_ of every period noticed by the church. Let them under- 


- stand now, that the Redeemer comes to earth, because 


they and their fathers had sinned. Show them the beauty 
and propriety of that service in which you welcome the 
coming Lord—and when you kneel at the altar, and they 
ask you what is meant by this service, tell them that it 
is the Christian passover—that feast which Jesus makes 
of his body and blood, that they who love and serve him 
may be made meet for the inheritance of everlasting life, 
and fitted for the enjoyment of an eternal festival of bliss 
and glory. 

Young people, while your duty has been explained in 
treating of that of your parents, we cannot avoid remind- 
ing you that no season can be more proper for your partic- 
ular attention to the subject of our address than the pre- 
sent. If you can ever expect to be free from cares and 
have time for learning and performing the will of your 
Lord and Master, it must be in the season of youth, 


ui 16 
before the toils and perplexities—the incr 
life press hard for your attention, What 
to yoursclves more becoming, or promis 
faction than those studies gihick will pr 1 
hours of rational employment, and_ wl 
you with refléctions that shall comfort y 
days when your sun shall be declinin 
of old age shall shut out the alluring ligh 
lowed by the young, when the winter a 
and the ardor and vivacity of youth be’ chill 
sured this is a kind of employment which 
to be repented of, a provision for all time 
preparation for eternal peace. A's you are called to | 
upon the commencement of those ser SW h whit 
church hails in hymns of joy and gl: he 
of her Lord, you cannot be more poe 
than in devoting your thoughts to the inst 
we ofr to give, and upon which we shall 
plore the blessings of Heaven. Those of . 
reached the years of understanding: suflic 
again call, to consider the great duty of | ° 
commemorative rite of your Redeemer’s dea 
not now trace any of the arguinents by whic ¥ 
often, endeavored to impress you. The alt a 
be spread with the emblems of that love and n 
flowed in mingled streams from the altar of / 
While it isrecollected that an interesting youth 5 
those who witnessed with pious love, the 
actions upon Calvary, we cannot but pray,. 
where those scenes are commemorated m 
every day with additional youth, and the ¢ ch 
furnished with those who shall long adorn he 
grace and find eternal rest to their souls. 


